AKRON — The Akron Zoo recently hosted a river clean-up in Akron. Volunteers picked up trash along a stretch of the Little Cuyahoga River near the Mustill Store, collecting approximately 200 pounds of trash, according to organizers.
The clean-up focused on an area of river that drains into the Cuyahoga River and is commonly littered. This trash has a damaging impact on the ecosystem and the wildlife that lives there.
During the event, volunteers learned more about how daily habitats can impact the health of the local watershed and how local wildlife, such as turtles and freshwater mussels, depends on it. The Akron Zoo is a partner in the American Turtle SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) and North American Freshwater Mussel SAFE programs. SAFE is a conservation program that combines the expertise of zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to help save endangered species…